AST-X
AST-X GmbH is a German engineering services firm providing custom hardware, embedded software, PCB layout, and IoT gateway products for industrial customers in machine engineering, energy, railway, and smart-infrastructure verticals, supported by in-group manufacturing through ASSDEV GmbH within the AXSELION Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersForchheim, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What AST-X does
AST-X GmbH is a German engineering services and industrial IoT product company headquartered in Forchheim, Upper Franconia. Founded in August 2014 as a family-run firm, AST-X provides end-to-end hardware and software development for industrial customers in machine and plant engineering, energy and electrical industries, railway technology, and IoT/Smart Solutions. The company operates within the AXSELION Group alongside manufacturing sister-company ASSDEV GmbH, which provides in-group prototyping and series production including SMD/THT assembly, vapor-phase soldering, and AOI/X-ray inspection.
The company's service portfolio spans embedded software development (C/C++, Python, MicroPython, Java, JavaScript, VHDL for FPGAs), custom hardware design (embedded systems, power electronics, high-frequency electronics, sensor integration), high-speed PCB layout with EMC/ESD compliance, mechanical engineering, and full qualification/certification support (CE, RED, ISO 9001). Its flagship proprietary product is the VIORYTI GATE AX2, a hybrid LPWAN gateway combining mioty, LoRa, and LTE connectivity in a single IP65-rated platform supporting up to 50,000 end devices with multi-layer security architecture. The company has completed over 900 projects across eight industrial verticals and co-developed the TRILUM warehouse logistics solution with Fraunhofer IIS.
AST-X generates revenue primarily through custom engineering service engagements on a project/quote basis, supplemented by sales of the VIORYTI gateway product line. Distribution is direct enterprise field sales via website inquiries, phone, and email. The customer base spans DACH-region industrial firms with no publicly disclosed named logos. Certifications include ISO 9001:2015, DIN CERTIFIED, and Made-in-Germany, supporting positioning in regulated end markets such as railway and aerospace electronics.
AST-X firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AST-X
- Legal name
- AST-X GmbH
- Website
- https://ast-x.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- AST-X GmbH is a German engineering services firm providing custom hardware, embedded software, PCB layout, and IoT gateway products for industrial customers in machine engineering, energy, railway, and smart-infrastructure verticals, supported by in-group manufacturing through ASSDEV GmbH within the AXSELION Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AST-X industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Embedded Systems Engineering Services
- NAICS
- Communications Equipment Manufacturing (3342), Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (33429), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial IoT/Edge Electronics Manufacturing (Gateways, Edge Controllers) (IMAGAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Industrial Connectivity & Networks (5G/LPWAN/TSN/Industrial Ethernet) (IMAIAMAH)
Keywords
Where AST-X is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Forchheim
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
AST-X business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Custom Hardware Development: Bespoke hardware development services including embedded systems, power electronics, high-frequency electronics, analog/mixed-signal design, and sensor integration. Projects range from prototype through series production.
- Software Development Services: Custom software development for embedded systems, firmware, GUI applications, real-time systems, database applications, and communication protocols. Covers 8-bit to 32-bit controllers, FPGAs, and multi-core solutions.
- VIORYTI Gateway Products: Sale of the VIORYTI GATE AX2 hybrid LPWAN gateway product, a proprietary industrial IoT gateway combining mioty, LoRa, and LTE technologies.
- PCB Layout Services: Professional PCB layout services including high-speed design, impedance matching, EMC compliance, and thermal management.
- Mechanical Engineering: Mechanical design and prototyping services including 3D printing for prototypes with transition to injection molding, front panel design, and mechanical assembly validation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
AST-X product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AST-X GmbH develops and industrializes custom hardware and software solutions for machine and plant engineering, energy and electrical industry, and IoT/Smart Solutions sectors. The company offers end-to-end embedded systems development including electronic hardware design, firmware/software development, PCB layout, and mechanical engineering, complemented by its proprietary VIORYTI GATE AX2 hybrid LPWAN gateway product combining mioty, LoRa, and LTE connectivity for industrial IoT applications. Manufacturing services are delivered through affiliated ASSDEV GmbH.
Product overview
AST-X develops and industrializes hardware and software solutions, operating primarily in machine and plant engineering, energy and electrical industry, and IoT and Smart Solutions sectors. The company's core product is the VIORYTI® GATE AX2, a hybrid LPWAN gateway that unifies mioty®, LoRa®, and LTE connectivity for industrial IoT applications. AST-X provides end-to-end services spanning embedded software development (C/C++, Python, VHDL, JavaScript), hardware development (embedded systems, power electronics, high-frequency electronics, sensors), PCB layout design (high-speed, EMC, thermal management), and mechanical engineering. Manufacturing capabilities are delivered through the affiliated ASSDEV GmbH, covering SMD/THT assembly, vapor phase soldering, AOI/X-ray inspection, and functional testing. The company also develops specialized solutions for Smart Transportation, Smart Mining, Smart Environment Monitoring, Smart Building, Smart Metering, Smart Parking, Smart Factory, and Smart Farming applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- VIORYTI GATE AX2: Hybrid LPWAN gateway for scalable IoT infrastructures supporting mioty, LoRa, and LTE technologies
- VIORYTI GATE
- TRILUM
Products and services
- VIORYTI GATE AX2 Hybrid LPWAN gateway combining mioty, LoRa, and LTE connectivity in a single platform for scalable IoT infrastructures. Features multi-layer security architecture including Secure Boot, hardware-based Secure Element, tamper detection, and encrypted OTA updates. Supports up to 50,000 end devices with range up to 5 km urban and 15 km open areas. IP65 aluminum housing for outdoor use. Designed for critical infrastructure and industrial IoT deployments.
- VIORYTI GATE All-in-one multi-technology gateway for demanding industrial LPWAN applications. Robust and scalable gateway providing an adaptable infrastructure for LPWAN deployments in industrial settings.
- Custom Hardware Development Services Bespoke hardware development services covering embedded systems, power electronics, high-frequency electronics, analog/mixed-signal design, and sensor integration. Projects range from prototype through series production for industrial clients in machine and plant engineering, energy/electrical industry, and IoT sectors.
- Embedded Software Development Services Full-spectrum custom embedded software development including firmware, GUI applications, real-time systems, database applications, and communication protocols. Covers 8-bit to 32-bit controllers, FPGAs, and multi-core solutions with expertise in C/C++, Python, MicroPython, Java, JavaScript, Swift, VHDL, and Assembler. Supports platforms from Bare Metal to Embedded Linux, FreeRTOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS.
- PCB Layout Design Services Professional PCB layout services including impedance-controlled routing, differential signal timing compensation in picosecond range, high-voltage design with isolation islands, EMC/ESD/RED/Safety/UL compliance, and thermal simulation for complex electronic designs.
- Mechanical Engineering Services Mechanical design and prototyping services including 3D printing for prototypes with transition to injection molding, front panel design, and mechanical assembly validation for complete product development.
- Qualification and Certification Services Comprehensive testing and certification support including EMC precompliance and qualification, CE qualification, RED qualification, climate and gas qualification, shock and vibration qualification, and burn-in testing. Documentation according to ISO 9001 and KTA1401 standards.
- TRILUM Logistics Solution Logistics solution for optimizing warehouse processes, co-developed jointly with Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS (Fraunhofer IIS).
Companies that use AST-X
Customer profileSegments8 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
AST-X technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
AST-X partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.
- ASSDEV GmbHcoreASSDEV GmbH is the manufacturing arm of the AST-X group. As the parent company relationship, ASSDEV provides prototyping, small-batch, and series manufacturing services including SMD assembly, THT assembly, vapor phase/reflow soldering, AOI and X-ray inspection, BGA/FPGA rework, coating, assembly, and board testing. This vertical integration allows AST-X to offer seamless development-to-production services.
- Fraunhofer IISstrategicJoint development partnership resulting in TRILUM, a logistics solution for warehouse process optimization. The solution was co-developed with Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS.
- AXSELION GroupcoreAST-X is part of the AXSELION Group, a parent company providing strategic direction and group synergies. The group also includes Solectrix among its members.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
AST-X competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Multi-Tech Systems: MultiTech supplies industrial cellular and LoRa gateways, bridges, and routers for M2M/IoT applications across energy, healthcare, and industrial automation. It is directly comparable as a multi-protocol industrial IoT gateway vendor competing for the same enterprise buyers as VIORYTI.
- LORIOT: LORIOT provides LoRaWAN network management software and a smaller line of gateways for enterprise and operator deployments. It is a direct peer in hybrid LPWAN infrastructure (gateway + network server), overlapping with VIORYTI on large-scale IoT rollouts.
- Kerlink: Kerlink designs and manufactures professional-grade LoRaWAN gateways and IoT connectivity solutions for telecom operators, smart cities, and industrial monitoring. Comparable product, comparable regulated-vertical go-to-market, and overlapping standards footprint with AST-X's LPWAN gateway line.
- Tektelic Communications: Tektelic is a leading manufacturer of industrial LoRaWAN gateways and end-to-end LPWAN solutions for enterprise IoT. It directly competes with AST-X's VIORYTI GATE AX2 in the industrial LPWAN gateway segment, with overlapping target buyers in utilities, logistics, and smart cities.
Others
- SYS TEC electronic: SYS TEC electronic is a German provider of embedded hardware, industrial controllers, and development services, comparable to AST-X's custom hardware/software design services for industrial customers in the same DACH market.
- Solectrix: Solectrix is a sister company within the AXSELION Group offering FPGA, video, and embedded hardware development services. Comparable to AST-X's embedded hardware and software development service line, though it sits as a group affiliate rather than a competitor.
Regional players
- m2m Germany: m2m Germany is a German specialist in M2M and IoT modules, gateways, and connectivity, with a strong mioty product portfolio. It is a direct peer within the DACH region, addressing similar industrial and metering customers as AST-X.
Emerging players
- Behr Technologies: Behr Technologies is a mioty-focused vendor building industrial wireless sensor networks and supporting gateways. Emerging peer with partial product overlap to VIORYTI, especially on the mioty protocol angle that AST-X highlights in its hybrid gateway.
Broad incumbents
- Worldsensing: Worldsensing provides industrial IoT monitoring solutions for mining, rail, and infrastructure using LoRa and cellular connectivity. Compares to AST-X on rail and industrial monitoring use cases addressed via the VIORYTI platform.
- Adeunis: Adeunis is a French IoT specialist offering LPWAN (LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, Sigfox) devices and gateways for industrial and environmental monitoring. Comparable as a multi-protocol industrial LPWAN vendor, though broader across protocols than VIORYTI's current profile.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AST-X compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
AST-X financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AST-X leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
AST-X subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
AST-X funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AST-X M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AST-X
What does AST-X do?
AST-X GmbH develops and industrializes custom hardware and software solutions for machine and plant engineering, energy and electrical industry, and IoT/Smart Solutions sectors. The company offers end-to-end embedded systems development including electronic hardware design, firmware/software development, PCB layout, and mechanical engineering, complemented by its proprietary VIORYTI GATE AX2 hybrid LPWAN gateway product combining mioty, LoRa, and LTE connectivity for industrial IoT applications. Manufacturing services are delivered through affiliated ASSDEV GmbH.
Is AST-X a public or private company?
AST-X is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was AST-X founded?
AST-X was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is AST-X based?
AST-X is headquartered in Forchheim, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does AST-X make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Custom Hardware Development is the primary driver. The others are software Development Services, VIORYTI Gateway Products, PCB Layout Services and mechanical Engineering.
Who are AST-X's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Multi-Tech Systems, LORIOT, Kerlink and Tektelic Communications. Others are SYS TEC electronic and Solectrix. m2m Germany is listed as a regional player. Behr Technologies is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Worldsensing and Adeunis.
Does AST-X have an API?
No public API is recorded for AST-X.
What industry is AST-X in?
AST-X's product category is Embedded Systems Engineering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAGAC, Industrial IoT/Edge Electronics Manufacturing (Gateways, Edge Controllers), with a secondary code of IMAIAMAH, Industrial Connectivity & Networks (5G/LPWAN/TSN/Industrial Ethernet). Its NAICS code is 3342 and its SIC code is 3600.